Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ )’s proposal to combat inflation through price interventions in the food, also caused numerous reactions on Wednesday. As reported, economists are skeptical. Price interventions are not very effective, it said from the Brußen think tank Bruegel. A distinction must be made between direct price controls and indirect measures, such as VAT cuts or aid.
- State -regulated prices for food?
The green Upper Austrian Environmental and Consumer Protection Councilor Stefan Kaineder is open-minded. Food prices are too high, “this is not a coincidence, but the result of a missed planning, extremely high supermarket density and lack of market regulation.” With 60 supermarkets per 100,000 inhabitants, Austria show almost twice as much as the EU on average. Food should remain affordable. The market regulates “not everything”.
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Source: Nachrichten
